Capsule impregnated fabric

ABSTRACT

This invention is a fabric impregnated with micron-size bubbles in the form of fragile capsules within the interstices between the strands inside the body of the fabric by spraying the capsules in combination with a liquid binder and then putting the fabric through a set of rollers, the invention being that the micron-size bubbles are so bonded completely within the interior of the fabric that when rubbed, certain of the bubbles break and release the fragrance from the broken capsules, none of the capsules being on the outside of the fabric surface.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending applicationSer. No. 06/130/728 filed Mar. 17, 1980 abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Process of coating certain materials, such as the surface of paper, isold in the art. The micropackaging technique is a process applying athin polymeric coating on the surface of materials with the contentbeing the desired fragrance.

It is known that perfume makers introduced perfume into printing ink forreaders to sniff such as perfumed advertisements.

Microencapsulation is a well known micro-packaging technique whichinvolves deposition of thin polymeric coatings to minute particles ofsolids, droplets of liquids, or dispersions of solids in liquids. Suchcapsules have been used in the pharmaceutical industry and industrialchemicals.

There are several processes for coating minute particles employing theprinciples and phenomenon of coacervation. This is a generalized phaseseparation phenomenon involving the emergence from a homogenous solutionof polymeric material liquid droplets of concentrated solution ratherthan solid aggregates. Such separated emergent phase in the form ofamorphous, liquid drops, constitutes the coacervate. Deposition of thiscoacervate around individual minute insoluble particles dispersed in theequilibrium liquid form embroyonic capsules, and appropriate gelling ofthe coacervate deposits results in useful microcapsules, with or withoutafter-treatment to modify the properties of the containing polymericwall.

Such processes are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,137,631 to Soloway whichalso discloses a fibrous tissue or paper containing such capsules.Additional processes are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,087,376 and U.S.Pat. No. 4,100,103 to Foris, et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,145,184 to Brain teaches a method of entrainingmicrocapsules in fabric by mixing them with laundry detergents and thenwashing the fabric which does not insure uniform and firm impregnationof the fabric.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,640,629 to Geiser discloses a tape or narrow strip ofsheet material having rupturable microcapsules entrapped on its surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,201,822 to Cowsar teaches a fabric in which a resinfinish is used on the fabric to contain decontamination agents forreaction with toxic substances. No novel method of impregnation isdisclosed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The novelty of the present invention is impregnating fabric withmicrocapsules, the core of each of which is an essential oil suitable tofunction as a deodorant or the like. The essence is encapsulated inimpervious waterproof polymer container of micron-size, wherein thecontainer wall is sufficiently fragile to break upon rubbing underpressure thereby to release the fragrance of the encapsulated core.

It is an essential part of the invention that this encapsulatedessential oil substance be not spread as a coating on the surface ofsome material porous or otherwise. But on the contrary, the encapsulatedmicron-sized bubbles are imbedded completely within the intersticesbetween the strands of the fabric so that they remain within the fabricand are practically invisible on the surface of the fabric and do notvary the appearance or feel of the fabric surface.

The capsules are sprayed into the fabric or saturated in a solution ofbinder and the fabric then rolled between two heated rollers with equalpressure and temperature to insure deep and uniform penetration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates surface on a much enlarged coated paper or the likewhich represents prior art.

FIG. 2 illustrates a much enlarged scale, the fabric impregnatedaccording to this invention and diagrammatic representation of therollers used to complete the process, with equal degree of high heat andpressure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The fabric 1 woven, non-woven or otherwise made, has strands 2 thereinwhich form the fabric body. The micron binder coated capsules 3 in theform of minute bubbles are confined in the interstices 4 around thestrands of the fabric. On account of the extremely and relatively smallsize of the capsules, the general texture and feel of the fabric is notaltered. The outer surfaces 5 of the fabric are smooth and capsule free.

The polymer container walls of the bubbles are of sufficient fragilityto break upon rubbing between the fingers or otherwise with normal handpressure and the liberated core provide the fragrance for deodorization,disinfectant and the like to suit the needs of the user.

On FIG. 1, 3a shows capsules on surface 1a in prior art.

The deodorizer fabric may be then manufactured into any shape or size asnecessary, for instance, as into fabric handled in the usual manner andwhich can be sewed into medical supplies, coats, jackets, ties,handbags, belts, pillows, cushions, stuffed toys, decorations and thelike, and the deodorizer fragrance or disinfectant remains concealedwithin the fabric unnoticeably.

It is important that the encapsulated fragrant substance is in suchminute bubbles as to be of substantially dust consistency in bulk. Thesemicrobubbles or capsules are impregnated in the fabrics, such as cotton,wool, silk, or synthetic fabrics, by any known microbinding process andagents.

The herein impregnated fabric is an important advancement over theprevious "scratch and sniff" products of former years, and over thesurface coated paper products as shown in FIG. 1, because immenselylarger quantities of capsules are contained in the substrate of thefabric and the fragrance lasts much longer than said previous products.The resulting fabric has greater durability, convenience andinconspciuousness. It can have a selection of deodorant, hygienicdisinfectant or other fragrances and the fabric may be dyed with anydesired color.

Important advantages of the herein described fabric are: lasting qualitybecause the unbroken capsules remain effective and are not subject todeterioration such as dripping or molding or drying out or straining;the elimination of presently used bulky containers and dispensers; andthe selective adjustability of the strength of fragrance released byfragmenting less or more of the bubbles.

I utilize a liquid acrylic latex of any known formula for the capsulesas a binder which I spray or saturate into the fabric so that thecapsules 3 are binder coated and imbedded in the interstices 4. I thendry and press the fabric between equally heated rollers 6 and 7 at atemperature of approximately 300° plus Fahrenheit and just enoughpressure to insure driving the capsules firmly into the fabric and notrupturing them. The rollers are kept at the same temperature andpressure to insure uniformity. Since all capsules are firmly positionedin the fabric it can stand laundering as I have verified by test.

I claim:
 1. A fabric having an impregnation of .[.micro-sized.]..Iadd.micron-sized .Iaddend.capsules .Iadd.therein.Iaddend.;saidcapsules being formed by a fragrance emitting core encapsulated in a.[.micro-sized.]. .Iadd.micron-sized .Iaddend.container of sufficientstrength to resist breakage under normal handling of the fabric butsufficiently fragile to rupture under suitably exerted .[.hand.].pressure to release said fragrance; said impregnation having thecharacteristic of being sprayed with said capsules in company with aliquid binder by a forceful spray to insure complete and uniformpenetration of said fabric by said capsules; .Iadd.and .Iaddend. saidfabric having the characteristic of having passed lightly between heatedpressure rollers to insure absence of any capsules on its surface thusproviding a .Iadd.substantially .Iaddend.smooth surface on said fabric..Iadd.
 2. A device for packaging a solid, liquid or dispersion ofsolids, said device comprising:a fabric having two opposed substantiallysmooth surfaces; and a plurality of capsules containing said solid,liquid or dispersion of solids, said capsules completely embedded withinsaid fabric such that said capsules are not present on either surface ofsaid fabric,wherein said capsules are sufficiently strong so as tocontain the solid, liquid or dispersion of solids contained therein andresist rupture under normal handling of said device but are sufficientlyfragile so as to rupture and release the solid, liquid or dispersion ofsolids contained therein when a suitable force is applied to saidfabric. .Iaddend. .Iadd.3. The device according to claim 1 wherein saidforce is pressure. .Iaddend. .Iadd.4. The device according to claim 1wherein said capsules are uniformally embedded within said fabric..Iaddend. .Iadd.5. The device according to claim 1 wherein said fabricis saturated with said capsules. .Iaddend. .Iadd.6. The device accordingto claim 1 wherein said capsules are of micron size. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7.The device according to claim 1 wherein said solid, liquid or dispersionof solids comprises an odorous substance. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8. The deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein said odorous substance is a fragrance or adeodorant. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. The device according to claim 1 whereinsaid solid, liquid or dispersion of solids comprises a disinfectant..Iaddend. .Iadd.10. A method of making a device for packaging a solid,liquid or dispersion of solids, said method comprising the stepsof:providing a fabric having two opposed substantially smooth surfaces;and embedding a plurality of capsules containing said solid, liquid ordispersion of solids completely within said fabric such that saidcapsules are not present on either surface of said fabric, said capsulesbeing of sufficient strength so as to contain said solid, liquid ordispersion of solids and resist rupture under normal handling of saiddevice but of sufficient fragility so as to rupture to release saidsolid, liquid or dispersion of solids contained therein when suitableforce is applied to said fabric. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. The methodaccording to claim 10 said capsules are uniformally embedded within saidfabric. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. The method according to claim 10 whereinsaid embedding step includes the step of saturating said fabric withsaid capsules. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The method according to claim 10wherein said embedding step includes the step of forcibly spraying saidcapsules in the company of a liquid binder into said fabric so as toinsure complete and uniform penetration of said capsules in said fabric..Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The method according to claim 10 after saidembedding step further including the step of passing said fabric betweenheated pressure rollers to insure that capsules are not present on thesurfaces of said fabric. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. The method according toclaim 10 wherein said capsules are of micron size. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16.The method according to claim 10 wherein said solid, liquid ordispersion of solids comprises an odorous substance. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17.The method according to claim 16 wherein said odorous substance is afragrance or a deodorant. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. The method according toclaim 10 wherein said solid, liquid or dispersion of solids comprises adisinfectant. .Iaddend.